Friends of Colburn Pool: Colburn Park’s Olympic-size pool in the homestretch

The Friends of Colburn leadership committee enthusiastically supports the original vision of a restored Olympic size Colburn Pool.

Recently, a private entity has stated their intention to expand a waterpark and potentially host a few swim meets. The Friends of Colburn Pool, having met with this local business, has come away reinvigorated in the vision to rebuild Colburn Pool as a publicly owned Olympic size pool. The private entity produced no plans, concepts or firm timetables. Furthermore, they have not approached the city or any local swim clubs seeking partnership or input. Their goal, as stated publicly by their own representative, is to be “very high-end, something you would see in Las Vegas”.

Colburn pool will continue the tradition of being the only public Olympic size pool north of Appleton. Public pools are traditionally more affordable and accessible to all citizens of the region. Colburn will continue to be unique and look to host regional swim meets. Partnering with our own local swim experts such as the Green Bay Swim Club, the YMCA and others, these swim meets, per the Great Green Bay Convention and Visitor Bureau, will each generate over $400,000 in economic impact,. What a boon for the greater Green Bay area and especially the Military Avenue business district.

For the past several years our community has diligently worked together on the proposed Colburn Pool design. The city of Green Bay parks department, parks committee, Friends of Colburn Pool, local swim clubs, the Colburn Neighborhood Association and citizens have met numerous times and hired a respected pool designer to create the reborn Colburn Pool.

In good faith, at the direction of Mayor Schmitt and the city council, the Friends of Colburn Pool have been fundraising towards a replacement Olympic size pool. In less than a year, after much hard work and dedication, over $700,000 of the $1,000,000 goal has been raised.

“The incredible vision for Colburn’s future and amazing community momentum that have carried this project will not be derailed by speculation of a high end waterpark expansion. The Friends of Colburn Pool are committed to swimming the final lap of this project.” Chris Wery, City of Green Bay Alderman, Member of the Friends of Colburn Pool leadership team

Questions can be directed to Chris Wery, # 920-490-9282 or chriswery@att.net